I started this blog as a spring board to creating a printed photography book on the lives and stories from the dog parks I’ve visited. There is a strong community that comes together for the sole purpose of letting their dogs play. This community comes together in very organic forms that can’t be created or organized. The people I meet come from all kinds of backgrounds and interests and might never meet up in any other forum. They are all bound together by the love for their dogs.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Some things are just out of my control

I love going to the park. Toby normally loves going to the park. The one thing that will send him running though is loud noises. One thing I'm finding out about Massachusetts towns is that many of them have gun clubs. There is one about a mile from my house and another in ear shot of the Acton park. Toby HATES it. He gets so scared and will run for cover anywhere he can. That is how he got lost over the summer. I've tried all kinds of things to get him to relax but he's almost 7 and he'll never stop fearing loud noises. I just need to understand it and let him find a safe place to hide. I just hope that this won't put him off going to the park. It does take a while for him to remember that this is his favorite place to go after an event like this. It will take a few weeks of going back before he'll feel comfortable again.

Aww..poor little Toby. My dog also has a fear of loud noises. She gets stressed if anyone raises their voice, but it's the vacuum cleaner she fears the most. She's jittery for several minutes after I put the vacuum away. Fortunately she's found a "safe" place in my bedroom to hide when the big, bad vacuum comes out.

Hope you and Toby can have some good times again at the dog park very soon!

I use to have a little shitzu when I was a kid that hated storms you talk about tough to deal with.She was a mess when there was a thunderstorm going on. But like you say you just have to let them ride it out their own way.

Hi Phaird,Don't let this get Tobytoo scared.My yellow Lab,unlike his chocolate pal,gets very shakywhen ,at this time of year,fireworks start to blast offfor November 5th,Guy Fawkwes season/remembrance.I just give Jeda couple of drops of Bach Flower"Rescue Remedy" on a saucer yoghurt or milk.Laid back Jake,thechocolate cool dog needs nothing.